I did not share my notes from yesterday’s morning message. I started to several times, but always was held back. Now I understand why. Yesterday’s message sang in my head today.
I was so glad to have heard it for it calmed my emotions during a monster of a day.
The Stronghold in the mind 2 Corinthians 10:1-5
With so much running through our mind, it is difficult to hear God’s Words to us. Many times, when it comes to our mind, the devil is beating us, because we don’t know how, to hear God and His Words to us. We over time, build up strongholds in our mind. If we don’t tear down these strongholds, we can’t think as we should. We can’t live as we should, in victory not defeat.
Understanding a stronghold. It is a place or structure preventing one from reaching the enemy. A physical stronghold could be a fortress, a bunker, a castle, a wall, any structure preventing access.
1) The Ground of the battle or war.
We build strongholds in our mind as well. Creating a place, where you cannot get to the enemy, to get to what the world tells you. This is our battlefield, where we are trying to get through the enemy and to hearing what God tells us. Everything goes through your mind first. The devil will put all manner of thoughts in your head. The devil will gradually make changes.
In the 30/40’s everyone said “do good.” In the 60/70’s if it feels good, do it Today, “if it sounds good, it must be good”
If you take time, to read the Bible, you will find the answers on tearing down strongholds.
2) Every battle starts with an argument.
Argument, knowledge, thoughts, all deal with the mind. Ideas, begin in the mind. Don’t focus on ideas, that you do not run through the filter of the Word.
We are living in an age with an argument against the Bible. (Its fiction, fantasy, written by man, too old to be relevant.)
What is the game plan in this battle?
A) satan and the world want to capture your mind
B) satan wants to control your life, to program you to his will and way
C) Corrupts, to get you corrupted to the point you corrupt others.
The thoughts of Christ on the other hand, come from His word and from His spirit. God wants to work in my/our mind to make me/us whole, pure, strong. So that we can see what is going on around us. When we see, we must not get arrogant in the knowledge instead, get on our knees in prayer.
Our strongholds may be hurt, jealousy, anger, or other emotions that will not go away and that block hearing the Word of God. That cause us to live less than what God wishes for us.
3) How do you break down the strongholds?
a) repentance,- of the things you feel are not right. To repent of the things we feel are against God’s plans. When we repent, God helps us to move forward.
b)renewal- Romans 12:2 be transformed so you can know the perfect will of God.
c) resistance- resist the devil and he will flee from you. Give your mind to God.
John 15:15 We can know the will and desires of God.
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Thank you Pastor J Mike Minnix for an incredible, important, and timely message.
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I say timely because, today was a monster. It would have been so easy for my mind to go places where it shouldn’t. It would have been very easy to have gotten angry. It would have been easy to have gotten frustrated and insecure. It would have been so easy for any of the so called, bad, worrisome, damaging emotions to have taken a stronghold and ruined my day. But this message kept playing in my mind, a mantra of sorts reminding me, of what was going on, and how to prevent a stronghold from forming. Knowing that, I was able to remain in control, remain calm, and get through the day without an emotional meltdown, which would have caused more problems.
Thank you God, for Your timing is always perfect.
The above was from 2019. It still remains very true. I would be lying if I did not admit that there are days I struggle with thoughts that have no place in my mind. Those of not being good enough, smart enough, young enough, pretty enough, financially able, or any other thought that could give me the feeling of being less. Even as I know none of these or any of the many other descriptive words that can be tossed out are not true, they still invade my thoughts. God has placed me right here, right now in this place in this situation for a reason. Trusting Him and His plans are key to peace. Understanding that He is in full control and everything will work out important. I cannot allow the devil to place these thoughts, create these improper strongholds, or worse, allow these thoughts to take root, in my mind. I know, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/the-awe-inspiring-truth-we-are-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made.html. I may struggle from time to time, but God always shows me that He is always here. I am never alone. He walks with me through every storm, giving me the strength and wisdom to endure what comes. It is He, who should be the stronghold in my heart and mind. It is He who I should look to for comfort and peace. It is His word and love I should cling to with all strength, faith and hope. It is He in whom I should believe and trust, knowing His timing always perfect.
Words from The Dirt Road 